Page 11 - AfrOil Week 34 2021

AfrOil POLICY AfrOil

OML 11 is in the Niger River Delta, in the southern part of the country (Image: LEKOIL)

Shell, by contrast, expressed disappointment (NPDC), a subsidiary of NNPC, had already
with the ruling. “Though we believe the SPDC taken control of the licence area and was pro-
JV has fulfilled its obligations under the Petro- ceeding with work there “in full gear.”
leum Act for the renewal of OML 11, our prefer- The court’s ruling has “paved the way for
ence remains to engage the Nigerian authorities NPDC to lead a formidable OML 11 team
on available options for an amicable resolution towards bolstering productivity in a “responsi-
of issues around the lease,” a spokesperson for ble, efficient, environmentally friendly and sus-
the international major said. tainable manner,” Kyari continued.
She also stated that SPDC had appealed He added: “We now have an opportunity to
against the decision in the hope of obtaining reconstruct a new beginning on OML 11, driven
more favourable results from a higher court. But by global best practices and a social contract that
Kyari said on the same day that he did not believe would put the people and environment of the
an appeal would succeed. This path is likely to Niger Delta above pecuniary considerations.
prove “futile” in light of the joint venture’s failure This is a huge victory for the government and
to develop the Ogoni section of OML 11 over people of Nigeria, as we now have the impetus
the last three decades, he remarked. He also to responsibly unlock the oil and gas reserves the
noted that Nigeria Petroleum Development Co. block offers for the benefit of all Nigerians.” ™

PROJECTS & COMPANIES
MIDOR completion still on track for 2022

EGYPT WORK to expand capacity at Egypt’s Middle The expansion includes the construction of
East Oil Refinery (MIDOR) is on schedule, with new crude and vacuum distillation units (CDU
early operations set to begin by the end of the & VDU), a diesel hydrotreater, a hydrogen unit
year ahead of full completion in 2022. and solvent deasphalting. The capacities of
Following a tour to inspect the facility near existing naphtha hydrotreater, naphtha splitter,
Alexandria, the country’s Minister of Petroleum isomerisation, hydrocracker, LPG treatment
& Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla said that & recovery and sulphur plants are also being
the first stage of the project has now been com- expanded.
pleted, allowing for partial start-up. The plant’s existing diesel hydrotreater will be
The overall project will raise the refinery’s converted into a kerosene unit that will process
throughput capacity from 100,000 barrels per crude, while tanks and auxiliary units are being
day to 160,000 bpd and increase the output of expanded to cater to the refinery’s upgraded
Euro-5 standard products. capacity.

Week 34 25•August•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P11